Summer is here and graduation season is in full swing. It has been a tough year for our high school seniors with most of their senior year activities canceled due to Covid-19 restrictions. Hopefully, with restrictions lifting, they are looking forward to catching up on summer activities and being able to go off to college in the fall. Most people…
The Veteran’s Administration has two major financial programs for Veterans: Compensation and Pension. VA Compensation is a benefit paid on the basis of the kind and severity of a disability that occurred as a result of active duty military service. VA Pension is a benefit paid on the basis of a disability that was not a result of active service…
Estate planning is not just for seniors. Ideally, as soon as you turn eighteen you should have some version of an estate plan because your parents are no longer automatically able to make decisions or act on your behalf. There are several reasons to create a power of attorney for finances once you turn eighteen. For example, the military helps…
If Proposition 19 is passed, does that mean I have to make changes to my estate planning documents? Listen to this short interview with Dayna Wilson of Keller Williams Real Estate and Kirsten Howe of Absolute Trust Counsel to find out. [Ad] Calling all neighbors in the Walnut Creek area and beyond! At Absolute Trust Counsel, we understand how unique…
It’s never too early to start planning for eldercare, whether for a relative, a spouse, or yourself. Generally, eldercare is separate and distinct from nursing home care. Nursing homes provide medical and personal care in a clinical setting. Eldercare offers personal care in a home-like or social setting. In California, there are three primary types of eldercare: Assisted living, home…
The passage of the U.S. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (ABLE) enabled millions of disabled Americans to save money without losing means-based benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medi-Cal. Currently, anyone with more than $2,000 in countable assets is ineligible for most means-based programs. Prior to ABLE, it was impossible to save funds for larger…
Rusty stared at the estate planning attorney, perplexed. “Why do you need a list of every song I’ve ever written, even if they haven’t been published? That sounds like a waste of time. Those are just my pickin’s, they aren’t worth anything.” The attorney peered at him through her reading glasses. “And what happens if a relative discovers a song…
The California State Controller’s Office administers the Property Tax Postponement program that allows eligible homeowners to postpone paying their property taxes on their primary residence. The program allows for the deferral of the payment and secures repayment by placing a lien on the property, or if the home is a manufactured or mobile home, by a security agreement with the…
Alicia stared at the statement that had been arrived in the mail. “This can’t be right,” she mumbled. “There is no way Dad’s Medicare premiums have doubled. And why has his monthly Social Security check been reduced?” She picked up her coffee mug and sipped. “I need to call someone.” She scanned the notice for a phone number and dialed.…
It’s almost surreal how COVID-19 has changed our daily lives, but even more so for those most vulnerable – our older and dependent adults. Unfortunately, those who need the most protection and care have nearly had it all taken away due to no visitation policies. Other than care staff and employees on the frontlines, who is ensuring proper care and…